Pledge Board as of Summer 2012. Are you in?

Chapter adviser and BOA chairman David Adcock announced that total contributions to the capital campaign for phase II of the renovation of the Chapter House have reached $600,000 of which about $50,000 is from current undergraduate members. He made the announcement yesterday at the Chapter House during a meeting and phase I walk through.

BOT members John Reagan and Gary Minor led walks through phase I for alumni and undergraduates, answering questions and pointed out the many design features included to lower the operating cost for the undergraduates and provide a living experience consistent with TKE Beta-Pi’s positioning at Georgia Tech: We are a large fraternity. We are a residential experience. We expect all members to move into the Chapter House as soon as they can and remain until they graduate. 

The old first floor of the dormitory has been framed in its new temporary configuration–a combination of 2- and 3-man rooms and a large mechanical room in place of old 104 apartment or old 110-112 corner (depending on when you lived in the house).  A wide straight hallway has replaced the narrow twisty alley that wound through the old first floor.

The second floor’s permanent framing nears completion. This floor and those above feature 2-man rooms with high ceilings. Baths are shared between 2 rooms and are designed so that sink, toilet and shower can all be used simultaneously.  This should largely end the usual morning traffic jams for those with early classes or co-op jobs.

The third floor’s load bearing framing is done and work has begun on the fourth floor.

Already the scale of phase I is becoming apparent as the incomplete building towers over everything else in the vicinity.

Under the watchful eyes of Gary Minor and John Reagan, construction is on schedule for the return of the undergraduates for work week during fall 2012.

Frater Kirkhuff

Charles Robert Kirkhuff (Bob) was born in Scranton, PA on January 8, 1921. His parents were Charles and Donzella Kirkhuff. Bob attended University of Rhode Island before being drafted. He served three years in the Eighth Army Air Corp with 2 1/2 years in England in the First Air Division, Intelligence Section. He returned stateside in 1945 and married Luise Gartner. He then attended Brown University in Rhode Island, when a position became available at Grinnell Corp. in Atlanta as a metallurgist to open a lab. When Grinnell closed the plant in 1974, Bob became an optician for Ballard where he worked for 12 years before retiring.

Bob loved his family, friends, church and country. He served as a Senior Warden, Junior Warden and many committees in the Episcopal Church. His hobbies were photography, wood-working, traveling and gardening. He held many posts in his local neighborhood association.

He was a chapter adviser for Beta Pi Chapter of TKE at Georgia Tech for over 25 years. Bob and Luise arrived in Atlanta in the early 1950s at a crucial time in the chapter’s history when the organization was losing its original founders and leadership was passing to the  members the founders had recruited. Together Bob and Luise were a benevolent and stabilizing influence, guiding the young chapter through numerous existential and property-related crises. With their help the chapter became a large, stable organization providing a residential experience in its own property.

For Bob’s lifelong contribution to the character and success of the chapter, he was honored as the first member of the its Order of Beta-Pi.  

Bob and Luise were married for over 66 years. Surviving are sons Mark and Paul, daughter Donna Smith and her husband James and granddaughter Lauren.

Service will be held at The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany. Benno Pattison officiating, located at 2089 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta GA 30307 on Thursday, April 19th at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to the music department at Epiphany or the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra. A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory.

Each year on T-Day, the Beta-Pi chapter hosts the alumni at the Chapter House.

Frater Wick Moorman and the Summer 2012 Chapter

Frater Charles “Wick” Moorman (BCE 1975) is living out his lifelong passion for railroads as the current CEO of Norfolk Southern Railroad and he shared some of his experience and advice with the undergraduates Monday night 3/5/2012 at TKE at Georgia Tech.Almost the entire summer chapter, along with trustees and advisers John Reagan, David Adcock and Michael Smith showed up at the House to hear him speak.

Wick amused everyone with a few stories of his younger days in the TKE House and as a co-op with the railroad before framing up some of the keys to his success. Among many pieces of good advise, a few stuck out:

• Make good grades. Although this might be considered a bromide, it was meaningful to hear it from the CEO of a company that recruits–a man who also has an MBA from Harvard.
• Get really good at something–good enough to be noticed. Whatever job your at, even if it’s not the one you want to keep, do it well enough to be noticed. Later, an opportunity may arise that has little in common with what you are doing now but people will remember that, whatever you were doing, you did it well. That’s how you move up.
• Recognize that, as an undergrad at Georgia Tech, you are part of the .001% in the world before you even graduate–and that a large part of that is luck. Much of success is luck–being in the right place at the right time. When you are successful, don’t make the mistake of thinking it was all due simply to your work. Give away some of your gains because it wasn’t all your effort that got you there.

Wick fielded questions from the audience on several topics including the prospects for passenger rail (as opposed to freight rail) and on the future of the railroad industry in general.  He was especially eloquent at describing the financial and environmental advantages of  shipping by rail. After, he remained to speak individually with several undergraduates.

“Wick’s talk was both informative and entertaining,” prytanis Michael Costner said. “Its great to see such a successful alumnus come back and share his experiences with all of the undergrads.”

Frater Moorman’s talk was the latest in TKE Beta-Pi’s ongoing series of alumni dinner talks designed to help the undergrads understand the qualities and paths that lead to success in life and to give the alumni a way to share their experience with an interested and appreciate audience.  This was the last talk scheduled for the current academic year.  More talks will be scheduled soon for the 2012-2013 year.

John Nickerson & Oliver Barrett

Since early 2011, two Tekes from the Beta-Pi Chapter at Georgia Tech have been working at Google helping keep the Internet clean. Oliver Barrett (#1258) is a strategist with the Search Quality team and John Nickerson (#1251) is a support engineer with the Ad Traffic Quality team. Both work at the Mountain View headquarters in California.

As a strategist on the Search Quality team, Oliver’s primary focus is ensuring that search results are spam free and, above all else, useful for Google’s millions of users. His day to day work involves analyzing search trends for spam and abuse and developing solutions to help keep Google one step ahead of those trying to “game the system”. In addition he works on Webmaster Communications and as a part of that has been traveling around the U.S. helping small and medium businesses get online to increase their presence in the digital age.

John’s role on the Ad Traffic Quality team involves engineering tools and applications that help detect click fraud activity across the Google AdSense network. He spends most of his day working with analysts to identify areas of product abuse, and developing applications that Google uses to ensure their advertising partners are not affected by fraudulent activity. Additionally, John helps advise on AdSense policy to ensure they are properly communicated to the millions of Google users and that they are enforced .

Oliver and John have also been active in the Northern California Georgia Tech Alumni group, watching football games with other alumni at a local watering hole, The Blue Light, at the brutal hour of 9am local time.

——————————————————-
->Best value in almost a decade at a $249 base price in premium sections.
->Special $199 and $175 season price points in the upper sideline corners and gold zone respectively.
-> Tickets will go on sale Wednesday afternoon and a number of organizations are already lining up to secure blocks in these specially priced areas.
-> Normally a price drop means a drop in the number of games as well, but we maintain a 7 game home schedule.

$325 per ticket Section 104 and 108
$275 per ticket Section 224L, 225 and 226L
$225 per ticket Section 103, 109, 124, 127, 204L and 205L
$200 per ticket Section 204U and 205U
$175 per ticket Section 224U and 226U
$125 per ticket Section 110, 123, 128, 203L, 206L, 223L and 227L
$100 per ticket Section 102, 122, 223U and 227U
$75 per ticket Section 129, 203U and 206U

No TECH Fund Section 101, 111, 121, 130-132, 201-202, 207-208, 210-219, 221-222, 228-229

Several years ago, the trustees began the process of separating the facilities management and collegiate supervision aspects of operations. The chapter was incorporated separately from the board and the one employee, the cook, was assigned to the chapter corporation.  This two-boards organization is not uncommon in fraternities that own property and both corporations are 501(c)(7)s under TKE HQ. Both are on good standing with the state and with the IRS.

On Sunday, the corporations took giant steps toward completing that separation.

Separate Portfolios

The property corporation, “TKE of Georgia, Inc.” has existed for decades as the only corporation of record for TKE at Georgia Tech. This corporation is governed by the trustees–the BOT that everyone knows. Going forward, the trustees will concern themselves with all things about facilities, including the ongoing construction. This will greatly shorten and focus BOT meetings.

The chapter corporation, “Tau Kappa Epsilon Beta-Pi Chapter, Inc.” is governed by the advisers–referred to as the BOA. The advisers will concern themselves with everything about membership from recruiting through alumni relations. Alumni communications and event planning are now the responsibility of the chapter corporation and it will assume control of the bank account that receives alumni annual fund donations. It will also assume responsibility for oversight of all collegiate chapter operations including finances and member development. The resident adviser will report to the BOA. Member development will be the prime area of focus in the coming year for the BOA as this area of operations has not seen the same level of improvements as facilities and management and kitchen operations have recently.

TKE HQ has been notified to transfer its charter from the property corporation to the chapter corporation, completing that separation from HQ’s point of view.

Both boards will contribute to the management of the upcoming capital campaign.

Membership

The boards will cooperate formally as lessor and lessee. There will be a joint meeting each spring but there will be no overlapping membership.

At the meeting on Sunday, three BOT members resigned from that board in anticipation of moving to the BOA.  Michael Smith, Richard Sapp and Karl Paul will join David Adcock as members of the governing board of the chapter corporation. David is currently talking with other alumni about rounding out the membership of that board.

John Reagan, Gary Minor, Scott Smelter and Darrell Sumner will remain with the property corporation–the BOT. John will serve as chairman and Gary as vice-chairman through the end of 2012.

Expect more news regarding membership and officers of both boards soon.

TKE Beta-Pi 2012 02 19

Construction continues apace at TKE Beta-Pi. The two upper floors of the old dormitory have been removed. The remaining first floor will be reconfigured as 2- and 3-man rooms and 3 additional floors containing 2-man rooms and study areas will rise soon.

Expect to see a large crane on site in the next few weeks, a younger sibling of the “African Queen” that did the work in 1994 perhaps, to place floor slabs as the new dormitory takes shape. By the end of April, the shape and size of the new building will be apparent. It will be stunning. The drawings do not fully convey how large the new building will be relative to its neighbors.

The undergraduate chapter is holding together well so far. The meal plan continues uninterruped and regular work parties keep the place in a semblance of good order although, as anyone who lived on site during the building of the social quarters in the 90s will tell you, one never really gets ahead of the dirt and dust at a construction site. They collegiate are using the remaining building as a social space despite the difficulties. This was made possible in part by the build out a temporary men’s head on the first floor.

By T-day in the spring, there will be a lot for alumni to see at the House!

The event is simple. Volunteers have their heads shaved to show support for kids who usually lose their hair due to cancer treatments, and each “shavee” receives donations to support their dedication. This year, Tau Kappa Epsilon is looking to be the top team at our event and raise over $18,000

Again, thank you for supporting our entire fraternity in this philanthropic event!

Also, note that this can be used as a tax write-off for individuals and entire companies!

And a Happy New Year to all!

Doing something interesting?  Submit the information and a photograph to http://betapitke.org/submit-news.
Subscribe to this feed:  http://betapitke.org/feed. Follow the collegiates on twitter:  @BetaPiTKE.

Doing something interesting?  Submit the information and a photograph to http://betapitke.org/submit-news.
Subscribe to this feed:  http://betapitke.org/feed. Follow the collegiates on twitter:  @BetaPiTKE.

Cody Parham, Beta-Pi #1241

Frater Cody Parham (BSCE 2007), Beta-Pi #1241, recently passed the Principles of Practice and Engineering exam and has earned the Professional Engineer license in the state of Florida.

He is in his fourth year with Kimley-Horn and Associates doing aviation-civil design and construction management.

While he was an undergrad, Cody co-oped with Willmer Engineering where he did testing on materials and laboratory soils as well as spent time on construction projects as a technician performing batch-mixed concrete tests, standard penetration tests, fill material compaction tests, and rebar inspections.

Cody also interned with the Georgia Department of Transportation in the Traffic Control Section of District 4 where he performed traffic speed studies, analyzed existing intersection signage conditions and made recommendations for future signage needs.

Besides his involvement with TKE as an undergraduate, Cody was a Greek Alcohol Peer Educator and a member of the ASCE.

Doing something interesting?  Submit the information and a photograph to http://betapitke.org/submit-news.
Subscribe to this feed:  http://betapitke.org/feed. Follow the collegiates on twitter:  @BetaPiTKE.

Eric Hunter at Larrison Rock, Oregon (Photo by Eric Hunter)

When most people think of business, they think “for profit”. But that term means only that the business takes its profits in money. Non-profit or not-for-profit organizations (NPOs) face the same general organizational challenges as their for-profit cousins only they take their profits differently–as diseases cured, adults taught to read, or children immunized, for example.  As for profit businesses are accountable to stockholders who could invest in other companies, NPOs are accountable to grantors who have other organizations clamoring for their money.

Since 2005, Frater Eric Hunter has been working in Portland, Oregon for The Nature Conservancy (TNC), America’s largest environmental non-profit, to ensure that they are making good use of the resources entrusted to them. As a grants specialist, Eric works with spreadsheets to track the organization’s expenses on publicly funded conservation and restoration projects while mastering the arcane, cryptic and confusing rules and regulations that go along with the funds.

• removal of invasive algae and restoration of a bay on Oahu
• working with native Hawaiians to preserve their way of life as it relates to the sea and land
• restoring the Hawaiian Islands’ watersheds and protecting them from invasive species
• the return of native salmon to an estuary in Alaska
• the restoration and return to proper mangement of a large scale forest in southern Oregon

Eric is also managing the single largest ARRA-funded grant awarded to TNC in the amount of $6.6 million for its work with the City of Ashland and Lomakatsi Restoration Project.

Eric remarks, “While it might not sound like the most exciting job out there, when I get out in the field and see the projects that I support, it makes it all worthwhile. Especially when I have to visit Hawaii in the middle of the Oregon winter.”

Doing something interesting?  Submit the information and a photograph to http://betapitke.org/submit-news.
Subscribe to this feed:  http://betapitke.org/feed. Follow the collegiates on twitter:  @BetaPiTKE.

Since the early 1960s, being a large fraternity and a residential experience have been essential and non-negotiable elements of the Teke experience at Georgia Tech. They are part of what sets us apart from other fraternities at Tech. These elements have been confirmed several times over the decades, most recently in the decision of the trustees to embark on the major dormitory revision. These fellows are certainly going to see a lot of changes in the next few years!

Let’s wish these guys the best as they initiate their journeys as Tekes – the choice to belong, the challenge to become.

TKE Beta-Pi December 2011 Initiates

"TKE" Bible

A Bible found its way into a brother’s hands while he lived at the TKE House. Though he did not know its significance, he has kept it safe ever since.

Can you explain how it came to be at 159 5th Street?

It’s the size of a modern paperback book. The cover is white. A small metal TKE crest has been affixed to the middle of the front cover. Some of the pages are flecked with red candle wax.  The first page implies that it was produced to give to newly married couples but, of course, this particular copy was not.

It is a copy of the original King James Version of 1611.  An examination of several verses shows that it is not the New American Standard Version.

Since the days of house mother Lomie Jetton, the chapter has used a large, beautifully bound and illustrated bible.

Could this copy be from an earlier day–the chapter’s original, perhaps?

If you recognize this object, please respond via the submit news page.

The golf tournament is looking good! Over forty signed up and we have several foursomes already.

The Friday night Homecoming Reception will again take place in an exceptional venue–the Midtown Renaissance Hotel.

The Homecoming Lunch BBQ at the TKE House has been rescheduled for 500-730pm to accommodate the late start time. Meet up at the House before walking down to Grant Field!

There will be four food stations. You can buy a ticket to one for $5 or to all four for $15. Come get a sample of what the chef has to offer!

Then have a look at the Phase I plans. BOT members will be there to answer questions. And take a good look at the old “apartment” house and maybe some pictures because we’re currently on track to make this the last Homecoming that building will ever see.

Registration for the Friday Night event and for meals at the House on Saturday is easy.  If you just want to register quickly without setting up an account with Laurus, just go to https://www.mygreekgift.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=583. It’s no more difficult than ordering a copy of “Clean Old-Fashioned Hate” (about the GT-U(sic)GA football rivalry) from Amazon.

I hope to see you all there Friday and Saturday.

YITB,
Mike

 Homecoming plans have been announced. The registration link will be active sometime Thursday 6 October 2011.

Phase 1 Elevation from Techwood - Note the Scale of the New Building

The Board of Trustees met last Sunday, October 2nd, and reviewed plans for the upcoming renovation with the undergraduates. The contractor has been selected and packages are out to four banks now. If acceptable terms are reached, we’re set for demolition beginning in December.

Phase 1 of the project is being debt financed and will include razing and rebuilding the dormitory. The new rooms will be larger and have higher ceilings and built in lofts. The electrical system will be brought into the current century as will the windows and insulation. Four men will share a bath and each bath is configured so that sink, shower and toilet can be used separately. We anticipate significant savings in utilities in the new building.

The social quarters and kitchen will remain operable during construction. Nevertheless, it’s going to a challenge for the organization for the first half of 2012 as the chapter must hold itself together through this disruption.  It’s been done in the past though and, like the chapters of 1993-94 and 1995-96, we will do what we have to and emerge from the experience stronger.

TKE Beta-Pi 2011 Fall Candidate Class

The undergrads report that 33 young men have pledged to TKE Beta-Pi as of last night.  When they are initiated, chapter membership will exceed 100. That is one fierce sea of khaki.